Oklahoma State University Athletics
EMPTY Seats at Bedlam Contest
November 17, 2008 | General
If you are an OSU football season ticket holder – thank you. You've helped OSU Athletics set a new record in season ticket sales. If you are worried we will not be sold out in our new stadium for Bedlam contest, please read on. We have heard from many great fans expressing a variety of ideas and strategies – including selling OSU v. OU tickets to season ticket holders only, selling them to those patrons who commit to 2009 season tickets, selling to civic clubs at a discount, and so on.
Last summer, we spent hours on strategic options with regard to driving a balance between increased revenues, increased ticket sales and attendance. The 2008 single-game ticket prices were established representing general public ticket prices at $60 for non-conference games and $85 for the available Big 12 games. And following success at Iowa State University (with the 2007 Iowa game being played in Ames, season ticket sales increased from 28,000 to 36,000), our staff agreed on adapting a similar strategy for this seasons Bedlam contest on Thanksgiving weekend - No single-game tickets are available for the OSU vs. OU game.
The pros and cons of this strategy were weighed heavily in many staff meetings. Ultimately, our goal is to grow season ticket sales and strengthen our overall financial position relative to the other members of the Big 12 Conference (65% of our annual budget is directly associated with tickets and donor seating in Football and Men's Basketball; Oklahoma State Athletics' annual operating budget currently ranks 9th in the conference).  In short, the strategy isn't about the short term consequences of empty seats for the 2008 Bedlam game but the long term success of athletics at OSU. If we are to compete for championships in the Big 12 Conference we must sell more season tickets.
Importantly, only 3.1% of football season ticket holders previously purchased extra tickets for the Bedlam game – this is an important statistic to know a very small constituency has provided negative feedback. On the whole, our strategy has been very well received with OSU fans, ticket holders and donors.
With this background on our policy, we are still fielding many requests. There are several ways to obtain an OSU vs. OU ticket:
1 – Buy a season ticket
- $419 in main stadium – donation may be required depending on yard-line/location.
- $294 in west end zone
- $245 in west end zone (family package; quantities of 4)
- $150 OSU Student (students only with ID)
Tickets may be purchased by calling the ticket office at 877-255-4678 or going to . As we expect excellent demand for ‘09/'10 season, you would have first right of refusal to renew these respective tickets.
2 – Use new TicketExchange program (purchase tickets from season ticket holders who cannot attend game)
- Go to and click on tickets
- Click on TicketExchange
- Browse tickets made for sale by season ticket holders
Again, the department's decision to eliminate single game tickets for Bedlam reflects our desire to grow season ticket sales -- it is all about the long-term success and viability of OSU Athletics. Based on achieving new records in season ticket sales and attendance, we believe this decision has contributed to the future of Oklahoma State University.
Thank you again for your loyal and generous support...we will see you at the Bowl Game.
Go STATE!
Craig Clemons
